William cougiilesr



(No ModeL) W. COUGHLIN.

,INVALID BEDSTEAD. 1 No. 463,944. Patented Nov. 24, 1891.

WITNESSES: Q I llVl/E/VTOI? N'rn TATES XVILLIAM OOUGHLIN, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

INVALID-BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,944, dated November 24, 1891.

Application filed August 3, 1891. Serial No. 401,557. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM COUGHLIN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Invalids Bedstead, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved invalids bedstead, which is simple and durable in construction, affords great comfort to the patient, and permits of conveniently placing him in an inclined position without touching him.

The invention consists of a bedstead provided with a bottom in two sections, of which one is fixed and the other is hinged to the rails of the bedstead.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formingapart of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of part of the lifting device.

The improved bedstead is provided with a frame A, comprising side rails A, a head A and a foot A On this frame is arranged a bottom in two parts, of which the part B is fixed and extends upward from the foot A to about two-thirds or three-fourths of the entire length of the bedstead. The other part 0 of the bottom occupies the remaining distance of the length of the bedstead, and is made with two side rails O, pivotally, connected at O with the side rails A of the bedstead-frame. The pivoted part 0 is adapted to swing between the side rails A, and is arranged to rest with its free end on a crossbar A, arranged on the head A of the bedstead-frame. When the movable part is in this position, the entire bottom extends horizontally-that is, the hinged part 0 is in line with the fixed part B. On the movable part C, at the free end thereof, is arranged a railing D for conveniently holding the pillow or other head-rest in place. On the side rail 0 of the movable part 0 are arranged outwardlyextending handles -E, adapted to be taken hold of by the operator to conveniently swing the movable part G into an inclined position. On the side rails O of the movable part 0 are pivoted the arms F, connected with each other by a transverse rod G. Each of the arms F is formed on its free end with a loop F, engaging a longitudinally extending toothed bar H, secured at one end to the head bed-post and at its other end to a bar I, extending transversely and attached to the side rails A of the frame A. On the bar I and near the middle of the same is arranged a bearing J, and a like bearing J is attached to the under side of the cross-bar A previously mentioned. In the bearings J and J is journaled a shaft K, having a wing or extension L adapted to engage the under side of the cross-rod G, as plainly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. From the shaft K also extends an arm N, pivotally connected with a rod 0, hanging downward and passing through a suitable bearing formed in a cross-bar A connecting the two posts of the head of the bedstead with each other. On the lower end of the rod 0 is formed a stirrup P, adapted to be engaged by the operators foot for lifting the loops F out of contact with the toothed bars H whenever it is desired to lower or raise the pivoted part 0 of the bottom of the bedstead.

The operation is as follows: When the device is in the ordinary position, the pivoted part 0 of the bottom of the bedstead rests with its free end on the bar A, so that this pivoted part extends horizontally in line with the fixed part B. \Vhen it is desired to raise the upper part of the invalids body, so as to place the same in an inclined position, then the operator takes hold of the handles E and pulls upward, whereby the part0 swings into an inclined position, carrying the bed part and head-rest and also the upper part of the invalids body, so that the invalid is placed in an inclined position. As soon as the desired position is reached and the operator releases his hold on the handles E, then the arms F by their loops F drop into the respective tooth on the bars H, thus holding the pivoted part 0 in position Without further assistance from the operator. Then itis desired to lower the movable part 0, the operator places one foot in the stirrup P and presses on the latter, so that the shaft K is caused to swing, and by its wing L presses on the trans- IOO verse rod G, which latter is thus causedto move upward, causinga like swinging motion of the arms F, which have their loops F disengaged thereby from the toothed bars H, so that the movable part 0 is unlocked, and can now be lowered or raised farther, if desired, the operator having hold of the handles E, so as to conveniently manipulate the movable part and the patient resting thereon. Thus it will be seen that the invalid is not touched at all by manipulating part of the bedstead to raise or lower the upper part of the invalids body.

It is understood that the mattress and other parts of the bed resting on the fixed part B and movable part 0 of the bottom are sufficiently flexible to readily adapt themselves to the position of the movable part 0.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with a bed having a vertically-swinging head-section, of a longitudinally-extending rack below the head-section, a pivoted arm on said section and having a loop at its lower rcarward-projeoting end embracing the said rack, a cross-rod extending from the inner side of said arm, a longitudinally-extending Wing pivoted below the head-section to swing vertically against said cross-rod to raiseand lower the head-section, and means for operating the said wing, substantially as set forth.

2. In an invalids bedstead, the combination, with a frame, of a bottom made of two parts, of which one is fixed to the said frame and the other is pivoted on the frame, arms pivotally' connected with the side rails of the said pivoted bottom part and each provided with a loop, a toothed fixed bar adapted to be engaged by the said loop, a rod connecting the two pivoted arms with each other, a shaft mounted to turn and having a wing adapted to engage the said rod, and a stirrup held on the rod connected with an arm on the said shaft, substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM COUGHLIN.

\Vitnesses:

E. M. CLARK, F. W. IIANAFORD. 

